Discussion

Cigar and Bourbon Ice Cream....

I was looking for a good Strawberry Ice Cream recipe (I misplaced my David Lebovitz Perfect Scoop book) and accidentally came across a recipe for Cigar and Bourbon Ice Cream. I decided to try it out and I wanted to report here that it is VERY good... I wasn't sure what to except. I like surpising my friends with different flavours but I am cautious to have them try it without telling them what it is for this one because I am not sure if the nicotine would get extracted from the infusion process (I guess some wood):

I have just tasted a scoop so far while emptying out the contents of the ice cream maker into containers to put into my freezer. It burns the throat a little (not sure if from the bourbon or from the tobacco).

Wow, I've never seen tobacco used as an ingredient. I've smoked a cigar along with some really good chocolate, ice cream, rum and bourbon (not all at once) but never used one as an ingredient in a dish.

Didn't Thomas Keller of The French Laundry make some sort of tobacco infused dessert concoction, I want to say panna cotta, for Anthony Bourdain on an episode of the FN program A Cook's Tour: The French Laundry Experience? IIRC, Mr. Bourdain was at the same moment both touched and slightly unsure of the significance of the gesture, i.e. he thought it might be a dis.

Aside from the difficuly I'd have getting a Cohiba Club, I'd actually like to try this. Hm, I wnder if I could sub a Phillies Blunt?

Did you mean to address me? Are you talking about the ice cream idea? How is it rude? Sounds very intriguing to me. You could call it not to your liking, but it's not rude.

If you're referring to my post, the dinner was a completely real occurrence on a food Network episode of A Cook's Tour; the tobacco infused dessert had to do with the fact that Tony Bourdain was smoking quite heavily at the time. I seem to remember that he enjoyed the meal immensely, including the dessert, although he was not very clear on Thomas Keller's intentions in serving him that dish.

I was not kidding about making the ice cream with a Phillies Blunt, which I read has a mild sweet flavor. Plus they're readily available in my neighborhood.

I don't think my comment was too rude, but it is certainly rude-er than yours. I were trying to figure which comment cookkevin was responsing to as well. Consider that I were the only one who stated that I won't like the ice cream, he might have been addressing to me.

Lets put the rude stuff to rest, Cigar and Bourbon Ice Cream sounds rude and Im sure it would in fact taste rude. And at the risk of having this post removed I think any one who think it tastes good should get to the doctor and have ther taste buds checked.

Actually from what I've read, tobacco imparts a rich, slightly smoky, nutty flavor. Nothing rude about that. But taste is subjective and one person's delicious is another's distasteful. Humans eat many things I consider to be appalling, but I don't think of those choices as rude, they're just choices.

cookkevin, opinions are welcome at chow, but just make sure you address the proper party when expressing yours.

I think if you consider tobacco in the way a cigar smells when it's smoked, which is totally appalling to me, (but I do like the smell of pipe tobacco) then I would find the idea nauseating. But it appears that cigar tobacco has some flavor profiles that are not apparent when it's simply smoked.

Anyways, here's a NYT article on the subject, with comments from some noted chefs on their particular tobacco experiments, including the infamous Thomas Keller-Tony Bourdain dessert incident. The most telling remark, in light of the recipe topic at hand, was that of a Manhattan chef, who remarked that tobacco "...works really well with fatty foods."

I think it's just the nicotine; it's a known irritant. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe tar (the toxic chemicals found in cigarettes and cured tobacco products) is only delivered when inhaling the smoke, whether deeply or however cigars smokers tend to inhale.

I'm personally going to debate making this in my head for a good while before I try it, perhaps it's the figs and the bourbon in the ice cream I find much more attractive.;-)

Bushwickgirl, did you ever end up trying this recipe? I was going to make a black cardamom ice cream, but this sounds so much more exciting. I just need a veteran CHer's approval before I take the leap.

Yes, I did it late last summer, the tobacco imparted an um, interesting smoky flavor, not at all offputting. Mrbushy liked it quite a bit. Go forth and give it a try, or wait until you can get fresh figs, that was the real draw for me and made it special. Let me know when you do, and what you think.

This sounds intriguing. To me, cigar and bourbon is a great combination of flavours, though I don't smoke. I do love red wines that have that dark tobacco-y note. I can't imagine how it works with the sweetness and creaminess of the icecream though. Maybe this one will go in the recipe file until fig season =)

If you have no issues with the ingredients, namely tobacco, do give this a try. I used pipe tobacco, no particular brand that I remember, not flavored stuff; it was a good experiment that we enjoyed. I found the smokiness actually went well with the creaminess, and the figs and bourbon were a great addition. I would make this again, if that's any recommendation.

I'm with you roxlet. Interesting, but yes nauseating. I can't stand the smell of cigars and I can't imagine trying to make those cancer sticks edible. Maybe if I'm ever desperate for something to eat....